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Nicknames in the 2014 NFL Draft

With football fans looking forward to the 2014 NFL draft in May, some might wonder about a new influx of nicknames moving into the league. Right at the top might be one of the most infamous nicknames in college football of all-time – a nickname that will either become legendary or dissipate in the professional ranks. That’s Heisman Trophy-winning Johnny Manziel with his Johnny Football moniker.

With that nickname looming large, I ranked nicknames from the first round and early second round by when I thought they might be selected and what team would pick them.

2. (Rams) JadeveonClowney (DE) College: South Carolina. Doo Doo. His mother, Josenna, gave him the nickname after her favorite song by 2 Live Crew rapper Luke: “I Wanna Rock (Doo Doo Brown).” The song had a line: “Doo Doo Brown; the brand new brother in town; yeah, boy, dope sound.”

7. (Buccaneers) Teddy Bridgewater (QB) College: Louisville. Gump. In high school, his backup quarterback, E.J. Hilliard, was called Gump. Bridgewater said, “All of his jokes were related to the movie Forrest Gump, so everyone would call him Gump. On the field, we just started calling each other Gump,” Bridgewater said. They also said it was an acronym for “Great Under Major Pressure.”

8. (Viking) JohnnyManziel (QB) College: Texas A&M. Johnny Football.

9. (Bills) Mike Evans-USA (WR) College: Texas A&M. The Beast. He gave himself the nickname in high school. Mikey. This is what friends and family call him.

23. (Bengals) Darqueze Dennard-USA (DB) College: Michigan St. Country. He’s from rural Georgia – the town of Dry Branch in Twiggs County. The town is not even a one-stoplight town. They only have one caution light.

28. (Panthers) Jason Verrett (CB) College: TCU. Feeva.Verrett said, “It’s just a little nickname. Feeva, not too much. It was a nickname I had in high school. I’m just a player that’s always hot.” FeevaIsland. “I’m always pretty much man-to-man, on an island,” he added.

45. (Lions) Jordan Matthews (WR) College: Vanderbilt. Sasquatch. Teammates at Vandy gave him the nickname. “Jordan always jokes that he’s like Sasquatch – he’s never been caught!” said Vanderbilt’s receivers coach Josh Gattis. “I know if he’s got the ball in his hand and he’s got a lead on you, you’ll never catch him, regardless of his speed.”

49. (Jets) Troy Niklas (TE) College: Notre Dame. Hercules. Teammates gave him the nickname because he 6-foot-6, 270 pounds, and all muscle.

Will these future players make a dent in National Football League? Only time will tell.